Ington



'0. E. STARR.

DRIVING MECHANISMV FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

A PPLICATIUN FIIED MAY I5. |922. 15,424.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Rissued July 25, 1922.

Y A'ITT0RNEYS.

` c. E. STARR. DRIVING MECHANISM F'OR :MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FIlD MAY15.I922.

Reissued July 25, 1922.

JNVENTOR.

ple and compact.

UNITED STATES `Pari-:Nr OFFICE..

CHARLES iE. STARR.' OF OAKLAND. CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOR TO PERFECTO GEAR fIUIFFEIRQII'AN'TIAL CO., vOIE' SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OFWASH- INe'roN.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Reissucd Letters Patent. Bpi qgnpd July 25, 1922Original lo. 1,382,360, dated December 14, 195m, Serial No. 293,189,1ledApril 28, 1919.' Application for i reissue led May 18, 1922. Serial No.561,515.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I. CHARLES E. STARR. a citizen of the United States,and resident of Oakland. county of Alameda` and State of California,formerly of Sedro Woolley, county of Skagit. and State of llVashington.have invented certain new and useful Im provements 'in Driving Mechanismfor Motor Vehicles. of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to a device which employs inconibination adifferential and a planetary gear system, whereby an additional changein speed may be securedby the action of mechanisms which are simple,compact, reliable and eflicient.

The object of my invention is to combine,

with a 'differential` Afor such purposes. as driving off automobiles amechanism by which an additional change in speed may be secured, and tohave the entire device sim- The invention consists of the combination ofparts. which will be hereinafter described and then vdefined by theclaims which terminate this specification.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my device embodied inthe Form of constructlon which I now most prefer to use.

Fi 1 is a longitudinal section taken uponv the p ane of the differentialshafts or axles. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionl taken through the gearsof thelanetary system, the same being substantial y on the plane of thetransmission shaft. Flg. 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane ofthe shifting fork.

In the drawings 1 and 10 represent the differential shafts which may betwo stub shafts of an automobile rear axle. These shafts have their endsabutting. These are connected by a dierential which is. or may be, of astandard construction. The differential shown consists of two beveledgears 2 and 20. intermediate beveled gears 21 which are mounted to turnupon pins 22 carried by frame or casing 23. This l,part 23 I have calleda master ring, although in its physical aspect it most nearly resemblesa casing; neverthelessits prim ary function is to carry its intermediatepinions 21, and through them to impart motion to the differential ars 2and 20. This ring 23, instead of having a drivin gear secured'thereto,'has a series of journa pins 30, upon which pinions 3 are IDOUR-ed, these pinions 3 being the intermediate` gears of a planetary gearsystem. As shown in Fig. 2. three of these pinions are used: the numbersof these may be varied in accordance with the necessity or desire.

The outer or master gear 4 of the planetary system is secured to a Web40 which is provided with a. sleeve 41 upon which it turns. `The innergear 5I of the 4planetary system is carried by'one end of a sleeve 50,which sleeve is. mounted to turn freely upon one of the shafts or axles10. The master gear 4 of the planetary system is the member throughwhich .the power is communicated to drive the axles v1 and 10. The powerfor r1-v turning lhe combined gear system is marily applied to themaster gear 4. he manner of doing this is in one senseimmaterial. Asillustrated I4 have provided the outer surface of the gear 4 with wormteeth 4 1, and these are engaged by a worm 42 car-- ried by atransmission shaft 43.

The inner end-of the sleeve-'50 is provided,

with a set of lugs 51- which areadaptedrto lintermesh with other lugs orrecesses carried by the casing-23 yof the dierential. One of suchrecesses is shown :at-24 in Fig. 1. In thel position of the sleeve 50and the gear 5, as shown in Fig. 1. the above parts are not mengagement. in consequence. they are free to rotate at different'speeds.If, however, the gear 5 be moved over toward the dfferential, so as toenter the lugs 51 in the.

recesses 24` in the casing 23, this gear will '1 be locked so as to turnwiththe casing 23,

- that is with the master ring of the dlfer:

ential.

At'the opposite end of the sleeve 50- .a shifting collar'6 is provided.This has' a, groove 60 ,-in its outer periphery,- in which aremountedblocks 61 which are pivotall i connected with a yoke 62`secured toa sha63. lBy oscillatin. thisshaft, the collar: 6,' and with it the s eeve.50 and its' attached member, herein shown ascarried by theouter casing7, which incloses the entire mechanism herein described. Thiscasing 7 ygear5, may bemoved lengthwise sothat the is herein shown as to besecured to the shaft housings, 70 which inclose the dierential Shafts 1.and 10,'

45 i be reliable and to have ample wearing sur# tial, t

50be shifted in the opposite direction so as..

to engage the lugs 51 With the' lugs 24, ear-i' ried bly the master'ring 23 of the differen- `as to revolve as one `piece withthe masterrmr of thediferentia he casinoF 7 has. an internally. extendingsleeve7l,.within which is mounted a bearing 72 for the sleeve 50. Thissleeve 50 in turn forms a bearing for the shaft 10. '.A casting .4 4 issecured to one side of the master gear ltot the planetary system andincluses the differential. This may form, with the disk 40 and rlng 4,aclose casing` for the differential, or be an open work spider. At itsouter end this casting has a sleeve to which is secured one-half of abearing '46,v the other'half of vwhich bearing is Vcarried bg a sleeve73 which extends inwardly from t e outer casing 7. The casing or frame23 which vacts as the master ring of the diferential, also has a sleeve25 which has a bearing within thev sleeve 45 and also 'has a bearing forthe shaft 1.

The master ring ofthe diii'erential` in-the construction illustrated mayfunction as an inclosing casing. It is provided with, or has securedthereto, two rotative bearings, one consisting of the sleeve 25 and theother ofthe sleeve 26. The latter is indicated as belng a rollerbearing. The sleeve 50 through the, shifting of which the change ofspeed 1s secured, has a flange 51 which is Journaled upon the outersurface 'of the sleeve 26. i

By the above construction is provided a compact mechanism of suchcharacter'as to faces, through. the means of which another change inspeed ratio may be employed for.

drlving automobiles. ordinarily to substitute usualspeed' varyingmechanism, but to add the same thereto. l Iclim; 1 A j e combinationwith a diii'erential gearsystem of aplanetary gear system. hav-` mg ltsintermediate gears secured .to turn with the master'ring,1 of thedierential, and

It is not intended `lnieaitis i'for` optionally locking the inner` gearof. the planetary gearl system ldirectly te the master ring voi theydifferential or to hold it against turning.

2 The combination with a differential 'ear 'system and shafts drivenythereby and. avmga master ring joumaled upon the shafts, of a planetarygear system having attached gear against with it the master-ring or eplanetary system will be locked so4 this device for the its'intermediategears carried by said master ring and. its mner gear 'ournaled upon theshaft to rmit a llimited movement lengthwise of it e shaft, said innergear and the master ring# of the diiferentia having engageable clutchmembers, a.fixed member having, with the said inner gear en -gagcableclutch members, and means lfor placed co-axial with -the differential.and Y having its intermediate gearsV mounted upon said revolnbledifferential casing, the central gear, ofthe planetary system having: asleeve secured thereto. and having a4 differential shaft journaledtherein` 'an eri-` ternal bearing for said sleeve, each Vend of thesleeve having one-half .of an interlocking clutch, the casing of thediierential having complementa] clutch members and second complementalclutch members adapted\to be engaged by the other end'of the sleeve anda shifting mechanism engrfnrimesaid sleeve.4

4. The combination with a pair of axles. a 'gear rase, and differentialgears mounted in said case and connecting they axles, of. a planetarygear system having its cent-ral gear mounted loosely upon and movablelengthwise oiv one of the axles, means-for locking said central ear'to'turn with the gear case at one en of its'movement on the shaft and forlocking it lagainst; turning at the other end of its movement lengthwiseet the shaft, the intermediate lgears of the planetary gear system beingmounted to turn with the master wheelof the difieren tial, and means for'transmitting power to the outer gear ofjsaid planetary gear system.

5. The combination with a'udiilerential l,gear system. of a planetary;gear 'system` havin itsintemnediategears journaled on the differentialeasing. means for prevent-4 ing the linner gear et the planetary systemfrom turning, 4and means interpos'able be- -tween the intermediate gearsof the planetaryfsystem' and the diiferentia=l`-casing for preventingthiI intermediate fgears from turning on their respective journal axesto lock-the master gear of the planetary sys'- tem to said di'erentialcasing. e

6. Thev combination with a difiierential lgear system, of a planetarygear system lll) v sleeve journaled.

lpreventing the intermediate gears of the 7. The vcombination with adifferential' fear system, of a planetary gear system aving itsintermediate gears journaled on the differential casn, means forprevent# ing the inner gear o' the planetary system and engageableclutch mem-- from turning, bers associated with said inner gear anddifferental casing for locking "said inner gear and differential.casingvagainstA relative rotation.

- 8. The combination with a differential gear system, of. a planetarygear system having its intermediateA gears journaled on the.differential casing, engagable clutch members associated with the innerear of the planetary system and the di erential casing for locking saidinner gear to said differential casing` a fixed element, engageableclutch members associated with said' inner gear and said fixed elementfor locking said'inner gear to said fixed element, and means foroptionally engaging either set of said clutch members.

9. A device of the character described .comprising a housing. axlesjournaled in said housing, a differential system for driving said axles,a master-gear for turning the differential casing, intermediate gearsjournaled on said differential casing and in mesh with said master gear,an axially movable concentrically with said axles, engageable clutchmembers carried by said housing and said sleeve, .engageable clutchmembers carried by said differential casing. and said sleeve, a gearfixed for rotation with said sleeve and in mesh .with said intermediategears, andmeans for axially moving said sleeve to engage either set ofsaid clutch members. 10. A device of the character4 described comprisinga housingyaxles journaled in said housing, a differential system fordriv-v ing said axles a master gear. for turning the differentialcasing, intermediate gears journaled on said differential casing and inmesh with said master gear, an axially movable sleeve journaledconcentrically with said axles, a gear lfixed for rotationwith 'saidsleeve and in mesh with said intermediate gears. clutch membersy on saiddifferential casing and on said housing, complementary clutch members onsaid sleeve, and means for optionally engaging said sleeve clutchmembers with said differential casing clutch members or said housingclutch members.

11. The combination with a differential gear system, of a planetary gearsystem -h'avingits intermediate gears journaled onv the differentialcasing,

and a housing'enclosing both gear systems for mounting the master gearof the planetary fixed' for rotation 12. The combination with adifferential gear system,` of a planetary gear system having itsintermediate gears journaled on the differential casing, and a rotatablehousing enclosing both gear systems and upon which the master fixed.

13. The combination withl a differential gear system, of a planetarykgear system having its intermediate gears Journaled on the differentialcasing, a rotatable housing en- "15 closing both gear systems and uponwhich the master gear of the planetary system is fixed, a fixed element,aV sleeve concentric with and extendin through one' side of said housingand fixed or rotation with the inner 80 gear of the planetary system,and clutch means for optionally locking said sleeve to the differentialcasing or to said fixed element.

gear system, ing its intermediate gears iournaled on the differentialcasing, a rotatable housing enclosing both gear systems and upon whichthe master gear of the planetary system is fixed, and a driving ear vforboth systems fixed for rotation wit said housing.

15. In combination withl a pair of axles and a differential `system fordriving the axles, planetary'gears journaled on the dif- 95 ferentlalcasing, an inner gear in mesh with said planetary gears, a ring gear inmesh with said planetary gears, a journaled houslng member fixed on eachside of and supporting said ring gear, and clutch means for `ing memberfixed on each side of 4and supporting said rlng gear. a fixed. axlehousing in which said housing members are jours, naled. clutch means foroptionally locking said inner gear to saidA differential casing or tosaid axle housing, and la driving gear bers and ring ar.

17. The com ination with al differential gear system of av planetarygeary system, means for journaling the ring gear of the planetarysystem, said planetary system havingits intermediate gears journaledonthe differential casing and its inner gear liournaled in the ring gearjournaling means and in the differential. casing.

In .testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand .at an Francisco, 6thday of April 1922. v l CHARLES E. STARR.

California, this gear of -the planetary system is ..70

14. The combination with a differential y85 of a planetary gear systemhavgears journaled on the'dif- 105 with 'said housing mem- 115

